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Kimi
Räikkönen had a break off from what looked like a Scandinavian
race driver meeting in the paddock, with former F1 drivers, JJ
Lehto and one time Ferrari driver, Stefan Johannsson to face the
media for the first time this season.
"I
think we had a good winter, and the car looks ok," said the
Finn in his usual succinct manner. "It's hard to know where
we are compared to the others, especially because of the effect of
all the new rules. We will find out tomorrow and Saturday. I am
not sure if the new car suits my drving style better than las
year's, but I would say I am happier this time with how our winter
testing has gone."
The
big talking point in the paddock today is that a protest be lodged
against some teams by others, over the legality of their
interpretation of some of the new rules. Kimi was asked for his
opinion: "That's always been part of racing and when there
are new rules some teams always push these to the limit.
Personally, I don't know what the truth is. People will decide
whether these elements are legal or not. As for the Brawn being so
quick, I don't think it is so surprising as they said they have
been working on the car for a year already. But the results in
testing do not always repeat themselves once the racing starts, so
let's wait and see."
Last
year, when F1 raced at night for the first time, Räikkönen
apeeared puzzled that the media were making such a fuss about it
and he seemed equally perplexed at suggestions that Sunday's race,
which starts at 5 in the afternoon, might end in the dark. "I
don't know why people are making so much fuss about this,"
said the Ferrari driver. "We have raced at night under lights
in Singapore and during the winter, we often continue testing
while it is getting dark at the end of the afternoon. I don't
think it will be very dark at the end of the race, so I'm not
worried about it all."
As
for all the new rules and changes, the Finn singled out the tyres
as the key element. "The tyres have changed the most,"
he maintained. "I was not a fan of the grooved tyres,
especially in the last year when there was only one tyre supplier.
With the greater difference between the two types of tyre we will
have at each race, it is a different situation and the weather
could have more significant an effect and it can also change our
approach to race strategy. In general, the balance of our car
seems pretty good. Everything is slightly different to last year,
but it doesn't really change very much, apart from the fact we
have a few more buttons to push."
Even
though the season has not even started, the media were already
keen to know what the Ferrari man felt he could achieve this year
and even if he had given any thought to his long term future with
the Scuderia. "I don't think we will know where we stand
until after the first two Grand Prix," he said. "But I'm
not here just to finish races. I will be trying to win races and
win the championships. I have a contract for this year and next
and after that it is up to me to decide what I want to do. Of
course I hope to have a good season this year, but whatever the
result at the end of it, that will not have any influence on what
I decide to do in the future. In terms of my attitude, there is no
change this year from last year, or in fact from any other year."
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